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Section 2: Analysis of Program Activities by Strategic Outcome

In this section:

• 2.1 Strategic Outcome
• 2.2 Program Activity: Environmental Assessment Development
• 2.3 Program Activity: Environmental Assessment Support
• 2.4 Program Activity: Internal Services

 

2.1 Strategic Outcome

This section provides information on the Agency's two program activities:

• Environmental Assessment Development; and
• Environmental Assessment Support.

The section provides a summary of each program activity and the key areas in which the Agency expects to deliver. It sets out expected results that will be measured, with corresponding performance indicators and targets, and presents the financial and non-financial resources that will be dedicated to each program.

The section also includes planning highlights, which identify the activities that the Agency plans to undertake under each program activity, and the benefits for Canadians that are associated with each program activity.

 

2.2 Program Activity: Environmental Assessment Development

Program Activity Summary

The Environmental Assessment Development program activity establishes and maintains the policy and legislative foundation for the practice of EA at the federal level; and develops new and innovative ways to ensure the application of federal EA remains efficient and effective. The program activity aligns most closely with the Agency's priority to play a lead role in shaping the future of federal EA. The program activity also makes important contributions to the priority of building effective relationships with Aboriginal people.

The goal of this program activity is to ensure an effective and efficient federal EA process, taking into account interactions with other EA, consultative and regulatory decision-making processes in Canada. Pursuing this objective involves working with partners and stakeholders; monitoring and evaluating emerging issues and trends; and developing appropriate legislative, regulatory and policy responses to key issues.

Through this program activity, the Agency will deliver on the following key areas:

• Improving mechanisms for EA coordination with other jurisdictions to minimize duplication, simplify the process, and ensure timely delivery of high-quality EAs; and exploring opportunities to incorporate regional approaches.
• Elaborating the Agency's policy framework with respect to its role in integrating Aboriginal consultation into the EAs of major projects.
• Contributing to the review of the Act by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development; and supporting the Minister of the Environment in leading the development of the Government's response to the Committee's report and recommendations.
• Ensuring the regulations established under the Act are updated as necessary in order to remain effective.
• Continuing to strengthen the implementation of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) within the federal government.
• Supporting and implementing the horizontal initiative, led by Natural Resources Canada's Major Projects Management Office, which aims to improve the performance of the regulatory system for major resource projects.
• Working with other governments within Canada and internationally to share information and best practices that will contribute to delivering and promoting high-quality EA and to promote and reflect the understanding of "high quality" in the context of federal EA.

The following table provides the high-level expected results of this program activity and the associated performance indicators and targets. There is one key expected result associated with project-related EA under the Act, and one key expected result associated with SEA under the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals.

Expected Results of Program Activity: Key issues are addressed, contributing to an improved federal environmental assessment framework consistent with the purposes of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.
Performance Indicators	Targets
Percentage of key issues being addressed through the development of new or amended policies, procedures, regulations or legislative proposals.	Over five years, 100% of key issues are being addressed as a result of new or amended policies, procedures, regulations or legislative proposals.

Expected Results of Program Activity: Federal departments have access to the training and information they need to implement the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals.
Performance Indicators	Targets
Percentage of course participants from federal departments indicating their satisfaction with training course content and materials.	85% of course participants from federal departments are satisfied with training course content and materials.

Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ thousands)
2011–2012		2012–2013		2013–2014
FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending
41	4,306	33	3,404	33	3,404

Planning Highlights

In order to achieve the expected results for this program activity, the Agency plans to undertake the following activities:

• Develop operational policy instruments as required to support staff at the Agency and in other departments in delivering high-quality EAs of major projects.
• Define and establish consistent policies and procedures to support the Agency's role of integrating Aboriginal consultation into the EAs of major projects and ensure that lessons learned are documented and applied appropriately across the country.
• Work with provincial officials to optimize the federal-provincial cooperation framework, including developing new or updating existing bilateral arrangements on EA cooperation.
• Identify and evaluate the need for new regulatory proposals to address emerging issues.
• Respond to requests from the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development for information pertaining to the provisions and operation of the Act, including results of quality assurance studies.
• Support the Minister of the Environment in reviewing and responding to the report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development following its review of the Act.
• Continue, in collaboration with federal departments and agencies, to strengthen SEA by developing a risk-based management framework; improving accountability and transparency; and enhancing guidance and training.
• Continue the development and implementation of map-based technologies using a geographic information system to assist Agency staff in the management of EAs and the delivery of Aboriginal consultation obligations.

Benefits for Canadians

A good EA system is vital to ensuring that environmental considerations are integrated into federal government decision making, thereby supporting quality of life for Canadians, environmental sustainability and economic competitiveness. The Environmental Assessment Development program activity ensures that federal EA remains effective and efficient and that it responds to Canada's evolving economic, cultural, technological, social and regulatory contexts. By delivering sound advice and approaches, the program activity contributes to the continual improvement of federal EA, allowing Canada's economy to grow while protecting the environment.

 

2.3 Program Activity: Environmental Assessment Support

Program Activity Summary

The Environmental Assessment Support program activity focuses on delivering the Agency's responsibilities under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (the Act) and related policy direction. It aligns with the Agency's operational priorities to deliver high-quality EAs of major projects and build effective relationships with Aboriginal people.

The Agency ensures high-quality EAs of major projects through its support of review panels and delivery of the comprehensive study requirements of the Act. The Agency advises and assists the Minister of the Environment in establishing review panels and supports these panels in carrying out their mandate. When the comprehensive study requirements of the Act apply to a project, the Agency is responsible for meeting these requirements and preparing a comprehensive study report for consideration by the Minister of the Environment, with the exception of projects regulated by the National Energy Board or the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.

For review panels, and for the comprehensive studies it conducts, the Agency integrates the Government of Canada's Aboriginal consultation activities into the EA process to the greatest extent possible. This requires determining the nature and extent of consultation that may be required and integrating that consultation into the EA process. The objective is to avoid or mitigate adverse effects of the project in question on current uses of the land or on existing or potential Aboriginal and treaty rights; and identify any residual effects for the consideration of federal decision makers.

The Agency plays a central role in implementing the Cabinet Directive on Improving the Performance of the Regulatory System for Major Resource Projects, ensuring that the EA process is administered in a manner that will meet timelines set out in project agreements between federal authorities and leading the integration of federal Crown consultation activities.

The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA) is a constitutionally protected comprehensive land claims agreement, signed by the Government of Canada, the Government of Quebec, the Cree and the Northern Quebec Inuit in 1975. The Agency supports its President who, as the Federal Administrator, must review and determine whether projects of a federal nature proposed in the agreement territory should proceed. It also leads federal activities regarding the application of the JBNQA environmental and social impact-assessment regimes and the Act in the JBNQA territory.

The Agency will facilitate meaningful public participation in comprehensive studies and assessments by review panels through a participant funding program required by the Act. The Agency will provide EA training and learning to its own staff, as well as deliver training and guidance to stakeholders and partners involved in EAs. By providing training and guidance, the program activity contributes to a collaborative approach to delivering high-quality EAs.

The Agency will routinely examine and document lessons learned as it employs new approaches; and will apply these lessons when developing systems and tools for the delivery of EA management responsibilities. In all these activities, the Environmental Assessment Support program activity contributes to a whole-of-government approach in addressing cross-cutting and project-specific EA issues and developing appropriate responses.

Through this program activity, the Agency will deliver on the following key areas:

• Ensuring an effective, efficient and timely EA process for Canadians through its delivery of the EA of major projects.
• Coordinating with provincial and territorial EA processes to the greatest extent possible.
• Facilitating public participation in the review of projects by ensuring meaningful opportunities for input and providing funding to individuals and not-for-profit organizations.
• Supporting meaningful consultation with Aboriginal groups by providing funding to support their participation in federal EAs and related consultation activities; and by integrating, to the greatest extent possible, Aboriginal consultation into the EA of the major projects the Agency manages.
• Pursuing outreach activities to provide information on the conduct of federal EAs to encourage participation by Aboriginal groups.
• Promoting a sound understanding of federal EA requirements by delivering relevant and up-to-date training and guidance.
• Maintaining and managing the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry Internet site.
• Maintaining good working relations with stakeholders and partners, including provinces, territories and Aboriginal groups.

Expected Results of Program Activity: The Agency contributes to a reduction in time to complete the EA of major resource projects.
Performance Indicators	Targets
Percentage of times the Agency meets the timeline for its activities, as established in the Major Projects Management Office Project Agreement.	The Agency meets 100% of the timelines for its activities, as established in the Major Projects Management Office Project Agreement.

Expected Results of Program Activity: A single environmental assessment report* produces the necessary information to support federal and provincial EA decisions when both jurisdictions require EAs of a project.
Performance Indicators	Targets
Percentage of times a single environmental assessment report produces the necessary information to support federal and provincial EA decisions.	80% of cooperative environmental assessments result in a single report that produces the necessary information to support federal and provincial EA decisions.

* "Single environmental assessment report" means a submission from the proponent addressing the environmental effects of a project.

Expected Results of Program Activity: Responsible authorities and proponents understand the Agency's role in implementing the major resource projects process.
Performance Indicators	Targets
Percentage of responsible authorities and proponents who agree that they understand the Agency's role in relation to the EA of projects subject to the major resource projects process.	85% of responsible authorities and proponents agree that they understand the Agency's role in relation to the EA of projects subject to the major resource projects process.

Expected Results of Program Activity: Interests of Aboriginal groups in relation to EAs managed by the Agency are documented and presented to support decision making.
Performance Indicators	Targets
Percentage of EAs managed by the Agency for which an Aboriginal consultation work plan is developed and implemented by the Agency.	An Aboriginal consultation work plan is developed and implemented for 100% of EAs managed by the Agency.

Expected Results of Program Activity: The Agency facilitates meaningful public participation in federal EAs by providing funding to support certain activities.
Performance Indicators	Targets
Percentage of funding recipients who agree that the funding provided by the Agency improved their ability to participate meaningfully in the EA process.	75% of funding recipients agree that the funding provided by the Agency improved their ability to participate meaningfully in the EA process.

Expected Results of Program Activity: The Agency delivers high-quality EA training courses that are effective in providing practical skills and knowledge.
Performance Indicators	Targets
Percentage of course participants who agree that the training given by the Agency was effective in providing practical skills and knowledge.	85% of course participants agree that the training given by the Agency was effective in providing practical skills and knowledge.

Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ thousands)
2011–2012		2012–2013		2013–2014
FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending
140	17,692	77	8,603	77	8,603

Planning Highlights

To achieve the expected results, the Agency plans to undertake the following activities:

• Apply effective management practices in planning and delivering its statutory and policy-based responsibilities for federal EA.
• Develop and implement service standards, best practices and guidance to support its staff in the delivery of its responsibilities.
• Lead interdepartmental committees to facilitate exchange of information and best practices; and develop and implement strategies to improve consistency and timeliness in federal EAs.
• Work with provinces to coordinate procedural and information requirements to the greatest extent possible.
• As Crown Consultation Coordinator for most EAs of major projects, work with federal authorities to apply a whole-of-government approach, efficiently and effectively, to consultation with Aboriginal groups potentially affected by those projects.
• Negotiate and implement an approach to the efficient and effective application of the Act in the territory covered by the JBNQA.
• Implement improvements to the delivery of the Participant Funding Program to support timely decisions on the provision of funding to the public and Aboriginal groups that are well aligned with participation and consultation plans.
• Deliver a comprehensive program of training events to both Agency staff and outside parties, particularly in support of the Agency's role in delivering comprehensive studies and integrating Aboriginal consultation into the EA process.
• Document the environmental, social and economic benefits achieved through the application of federal EA.

Benefits for Canadians

The Environmental Assessment Support program activity ensures a transparent and rigorous EA process that provides a thorough description of the environmental effects of a project, including measures to mitigate adverse effects; is informed by the participation of the public and Aboriginal groups; and is completed in a timely manner. As a result, the EA process delivers the information necessary to enable decisions to be made in support of sustainable development and in consideration of the environmental, economic and social interests of all Canadians.

 

2.4 Program Activity: Internal Services

Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ thousands)
2011–2012		2012–2013		2013–2014
FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending
61	8,009	52	5,055	52	5,055

The Internal Services program activity covers activities and resources that support program needs, as well as an organization's corporate obligations. The groups of activities and resources are: Management and Oversight Services; Communications Services; Legal Services; Human Resources Management Services; Financial Management Services; Information Management Services; Information Technology Services; Real Property Services; Materiel Services; Acquisition Services; and Travel and Other Administrative Services. Internal Services are responsible for those activities and resources that apply across an organization only, and not for those provided specifically to a program.

Internal Services support the operating programs and activities of the Agency; and include many administrative activities normally performed outside program areas that cannot otherwise be allocated as program support overhead.

The objective of the Agency's Internal Services is to support core program activities by providing modern, timely and responsive services that are effective and efficient.

The major elements of Internal Services are:

Finance and Administration	Corporate finance and administrative functions, including senior management functions not directly attributable to any specific element of the two program activities
Legal Services	Legal services provided by Justice Canada
Human Resources	Human resources management services and products
Communications	Communication resources associated with the provision of internal and external communications services and products, including translation costs
Information Management and Information Technology	The provision of general information management and information technology infrastructure and services

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